Plate cooler



June 17, 1952 J, H, sCHMlDT 2,600,696

PLATE CCOLER Filed June 27, 1950 FIG. Y a 4 F|G,2 5 4 /l /3 y", )l 2 WIV u 2 f1 uw@ @@'\.\"q@f n }\\gm 2 3 nl. 411D @Mcm @D *am l. mi 45' @HD @H3-[D769 (H) INVENToR: .JACOB H. SCHMIDT BY @I n, )im

ATT'Ys Patented June 17, 1952 orties 'This `'invention relates to plate coolers "such as are 1used *by photo-'engravers `for :cooling 'printing `plates 'during 4'the course 'of their being processed. Particularly 'this invention concerns VAthe 'form and construction of "the 'top surfaces 'of plate coolers, upon which the plate being lcooled 'is rested -vvhile 'cool 'or Coldwater is 'directed 'against its bottom surface, and 'an improved "arrangement -oi controlling the water now thereover.

'The main 'objects of 'thisinven'tion are to `:provide an improved plate cooler construction; to iprovide 'an improved form 'Sor the top 'surfaces opla'tecoolers'upon which the plateistsupportedduring'tlie cooling operation; to'prov-ide arianne ,proved'top for plate coolers 4whereby `the fiiowof ,cooling water is lmore 'adequately controlled; to qprotfide 'Such ra 'device 'wherein 'more Vuniform -distr'ibution o'f the cooling water 'over 'the bottom ,plate surface is obtained; to provide such vadevice in which 'the possibility 'of 'spouting 'onto the top .surface of the ,plate 'or over` the "edge `of the coolling vtableis obvia'ted; .and to provide a -simplied .plate cooler top construction which is less'costllyfto .manufacture and which 'requires no maintenance.

A .specific embodimentJ of this `invention is .shown 1in the accompanying drawings in v-which:

.Figure L1`is a perspective View of 'a 'plate 'cooler embodying vtlie 'invention and showing atypical of Ysuch devices. inging. 2 is a 'top plan view of the saine show-ing .the improvedpla'te cooler "top construction.

Fig.. 3 is :a ragmentary sectional view, A'as Ytaken on.line"3-3 of Fig."2,.show`ing 'the form and arrangement of the iriproved Vcooling water disi utle'ts, an trlitugisoa top `plan :view 'oi` one of the .cooling water outlets as viewed from Vthe line '.4--4 v'of s shown -in Fig. 1 Aa 'typical form of plate coler comprises an open 'topped table frame I, mounted. on suitable legs y'2, so y'as to vbe 'at -a convenient working height, 'and 'adapted to receive and support a hollow box-'like tank on receptacle?, the top'surface v4 'of which is formed to sup- .portl the 4 plate to 'be cooled. lUsually the tank 3 'is'of 'smaller dimensions, in the horizontal plane, 'than the top opening 'of the table frame i, and thetaiik'is centered fi-n the 4table 'frame to provide "a'peiiph'eral `trough or I'channel 5, between the "sides of r`the tank and the table frame, which 4to receive trou h isclosedonits sides and bottom and lgcarry away water flowing over the .margins of' the surface l of thetank. A .drain connection -6 is 'provided for the trough 5 zand'ipreferably `the bottom -o'i 'th'eftrouglli is inclined 'toward 4the drain so that tWater will -n'o't sta-ndi-n Vthe trough.

'Thecoiistructionof the table i fthe'overflow 'drain 4and lbottom, so as to 'be "water tight, and 'its top ya wall 4 is providedwith Ia plurality of spaced openiings'fl "through which'water niayflow' to flood'tlie topsurface ofthe tank. "Th'e'top of the't'ank is `constructed to receive 'and support the plate il '(Fig. "3) 'to be 'cooled 'and 'the :cooling is effected "by flooding the 'top 'surface .of the .tank with cold water 'which lcontacts the 'bottom of "the plate .8.

A 'suitable 'wa'te'r inlet 5 having a connection, `not shown, l'to 'a `suitable water supply, A'such .as

lthe Icityyvater"mains, 'is provided at 'a central location 'in the 'bottom -of the 'tank .3, 'and'this Water connection i's'control'led 'by a .suitable valve, `also not shown, 'which in 'turn is adapted and `larranged Ato 'be operated vby a foot pedal l0,

mounted onrone'of the 'table legs 2 and connected to the valve by `'suitable linkage lll. Preferably the rwater -supplyvalve 'is 'spring closed so that it maybe'f'open'ed "bymerely pressing the iootrped'al "HJ, tandautomatically closed .upon I'release .of the 4-ioot pedal. Thus the operators `hands are .free 'for manipulation ofthe "plate 'being cooled and also'ithe'rate'of `Water supply icanbe readily con- 'trolle'd bythe 'amount of 'pressure exerted `Yon .the v.foot pedal l The present invention rparticularly relates to 'the construction of the top wall 4 'of the water ltank 13, 'and ltothe *form -an'd Adisposition -of the -Water loutlets "1 therein. 'tI-Ieretofore, the tank 'tops were ilat perforateplates covered with one ormore'tliicknesses of burla'p t'o'prevent the AWa- 'ter rom'spouting-or spurt'ingiupwardly when the 'tank-'Was subjected to pressure, as 'from the city Water lines, the yburla-p covering causing the water to 'flood the tank top more or less 'uniformly for even contact 'with the bottom of 'the plate :being cooled. This form'of 'the plate cooler has fthe disadvantage of rapid wearing of the 'bui-lap 'covering 'which necessitates 'frequent and costly replacement. -Also plate coolers Yhave 'been made :with a tank top of shingled overlapping plates ex tending transversely ofthe tank. from front `to .-rear, and -Yliaving "openings at the overlapping Ysiiesvoftlie Vplates which `face from 'the center of Vthe tank Stop Atoward the sides thereof. In 'this latter construction the Water distribution 4across 'the bottom lof the plate -being -coolcd is uneven,

3 resulting in uneven cooling and buckling of the printing plate, and the shingled form of the tank top is very easily damaged during the placing of the printing plate thereon.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 the improved tank top is formed with water discharge openings arranged in pairs and facing in opposite directions, and the pairs of openings are uniformly distributed over the surface of the tank top to provide substantially uniform distribution of the water issuing therefrom. Also, each pair of openings is formed to provide integral plate supports which project above the surface of the tank top and upon which the printing plate being cooled is rested during the cooling operation.

These openings, indicated generally by the numeral 1, are formed by punching or pressing oppositely directed or facing tongues, or rigid flaps I2, from the body of the tank top sheet 4, and forming the tongues so that the portions left connected to the top sheet are inclined upwardly therefrom. During the forming operation the free ends or tip portions I3 of the flaps or tongues are bent downwardly, relative to the respective inclined parts, so as to extend at only a slight upward angle relative to the plane of the tank top, with their tips at a predetermined distance above the plane of the tank top. Thus, the spaces or openings 1, around the margins of the flaps or tongues I2-I3, are substantially horizontally opening slots through which the water, flowing from the interior of the tank 3, is discharged in horizontal streams or sheets which uniformly flood the top surface 4 of the tank 3 and which will not spout or shoot in an upward direction. Also the slightly inclined end tips I3 of the tongues or flaps provide a multiplicity of laterally spaced plate supports which firmly hold the plate being cooled above the surface of the tank top 4, with a minimum area of contact with the plate, so that the cooling water which floods the tank top and flows between and around the plate supports will evenly contact substantially the entire bottom surface of the plate. These plate supports are substantially rigid members and because of their number they hold the plate without bending.

'Ihe cooling water which issues from the horizontally opening slots 1, after flooding the top surface 4 of the tank, overflows into the peripheral trough 5 from which it may be drained off to waste through the connection 6. However, in order to assure uniform contact of the cooling water with the printing plate 8, the margins of the top sheet 4 of the tank 3 are formed upwardly, to a height slightly above the height of the tips of the tongues or flaps I3, to provide a peripheral rim-like dam or weir which will retard the overflow of cooling water suiiiciently to allow the water flow across the tank top to be of ya uniform depth over the entire area and above the tips of the tongues, as at I4 in Fig. 3. This assures immersion of the entire bottom surface of the plate being cooled.

In the form shown the tongues or flaps I2-I3 are made with an annular die so that the cut edges or free margins of the tongues are somewhat semi-circular in shape. This results in the tip portions I3 of the tongues having a minimum of area that will contact the plate 8, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, so that a maximum of the bottom area of the plate will be in contact with the cooling water. Also the tongues extend in a common direction parallel with one of the transverse directions of the tank top surface 4, so that the water flow across the plate 8 will be uniform and not turbulent.

In operation of the plate cooler, the plate to be cooled is set flatly upon the top surface of the tank 3, the plate resting upon the tips or margins I3 of the tongues or flaps. 'Ihen the operator opens the valve in the water supply line, by means of the foot pedal I0, causing water to flow into the tank 3 at its bottom. The tank is normally filled to the outlet openings I and the incoming water causes the tank to overflow through the openings 'I. Such overow is uniform through all of the openings because of the incoming water entering from below the quantity normally held by the tank and the water issues from beneath the tongues in flat streams or sheets flowing in the horizontal direction beneath the bottom of the plate. The flow of water is continued by operation of the foot pedal, until the plate is sufficiently cooled, after which the water valve is allowed to close by release of the foot pedal and the plate is removed. Because the water is flooded from the interiorof the tank, in a horizontal direction through the openings 'I, inadvertent opening of the supply valve will cause only an even horizontal flow across the tank top to the trough 5 and spurting, spouting, or overflow onto the floor is impossible.

The principal advantages of this invention reside in the simplified construction of the plate cooler top whereby the cost of upkeep and maintenance is obviated without sacrifice of safety. emciency and uniformity of water distribution over the bottom surface of the plate being cooled; and in the improved form of the water outlets in the plate cooler top which make its manufacture more simple and cheap than the prior devices for the same purpose.

Other advantages reside in the sturdiness of the plate cooler top construction and in the firm level support for the plate that is provided by the improved form of the water outlets. And still further advantages are to be found in the arrangement for the cooling water distribution wherein the water flow is horizontal, parallel with the bottom surface of the plate being cooled, thereby obviating danger of spouting or splashing and at the same time maintaining uniformity of distribution over the entire bot'- tom of the plate so that rapid cooling is obtained without danger of the plate buckling.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described it will be understood that details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

`1. A device of the class described comprising an enclosed water receptacle, a horizontal top for said receptacle having a plurality of openings spaced across its surface, and means to introduce water into said receptacle to overflow the same through said openings, each of said openings having an individual upwardly inclined overhanging tongue extending from the plane of said top and terminating in a less inclined end portion spaced a predetermined distance above the upper surface of said top, and the free margin of each of said tongues and the margin of its respective opening providing a horizontally directed water outlet from said receptacle, said openings being arranged in side by side pairs across the surface of said top, and the tongues of each pair of openings extending in opposite directions from each other.

2. A device of the class described comprising an enclosed water receptacle, a horizontal top for said receptacle having a plurality of openings spaced across its surface, and means to introduce water into said receptacle to overflow the same through said openings, each of said openings having an individual upwardly inclined overhanging tongue extending from one margin of the opening and terminating in a tip end portion disposed substantially parallel with and spaced above the upper surface of said top, and each of said tongues and the opposite margin of its respective opening providing a horizontally directed water outlet from said receptacle, said openings being arranged in side by side pairs across the surface of said top, said tongues all extending parallel with a common transverse direction of said top, and the tongues of each pair of openings extending in opposite directions from each other, and an upwardly projecting marginal rim on said top having a predetermined greater `height above the plane of said top than the tip portions of said tongues.

3. A device of the class described comprising an enclosed water receptacle, a horizontal top for said receptacle having a plurality of openings spaced across its surface, and means to introduce water into said receptacle to overflow the same through said openings, each of said openings having an individual upwardly inclined overhanging tongue struck from the body of said top and terminating in a less inclined end portion disposed substantially parallel with and spaced a predetermined distance above the upper surface of said top, each of said tongues and the margin of its respective opening providing a horizontally directed water outlet from said receptacle, and the end portions of said tongues providing a support for a plate to be cooled.

4, A device of the class described comprising an enclosed water receptacle, a horizontal top for said receptacle having a plurality of openings spaced across its surface, and means to introduce water into said receptacle to overow the same through said openings, each of said openings having an individual upwardly inclined overhanging tongue integral with and struck from the body of said top when forming the opening and terminating in a tip end portion spaced a predetermined distance above the upper surface of said top, and each of said tongues and the margin of its respective opening providing a horizontally directed water outlet from said receptacle, said openings being arranged in side by side pairs across the surface of said top, and the tongues of each pair of openings extending in opposite directions from each other.

` 5. A device of the class described comprising an enclosed Water receptacle having a substantially horizontal top wall and a plurality of outlet openings spaced over the area of its upper surface, and means to introduce water into said receptacle from below the top thereof to overflow from said receptacle through said outlet fopenings, each of said openings having an arcuate margin and an individual overhanging tongue struck from the body of and integral with said top wall, each said tongue being inclined upwardly from the plane of said top wall and terminating in a tip portion spaced above the plane of said top wall, and the margin of the free portion of each said tongue having substantially the same arcuate form as the respective opening.

6. A device of the class described comprising an enclosed water receptacle having a substantially horizontal top wall and a plurality of outlet openings spaced over the area of its upper surface, and means to introduce Water into said lreceptacle from below the top thereof to overflow from said receptacle through said outlet openings, each of said openings having an arcuate -margin and an overhanging tongue struck from the body of and integral with said top wall, each said tongue being inclined upwardly from the plane of said top wall and terminating in a tip portion spaced a predetermined distance above the plane of said top wall, said openings being arranged in pairs back to back with their arcuate margins on the circumference of a common circle, and the tongues of each pair of openings extending in diametrically opposite directions from each other and having their free edges substantially parallel with the circumference of said common circle.

7. A device of the class described comprising an enclosed water receptacle having a substantially horizontal top wall and a plurality of outlet openings spaced over the area of its upper surface, and means to introduce water into said receptacle from below the top thereof to overiiow from said receptacle through said outlet openings, each of said openings having an arcuate margin and an overhanging tongue struck from the body of and integral with said top wall, each said tongue being inclined upwardly from the plane of said top wall and terminating in a tip portion spaced a predetermined distance above the plane of said top wall, said openings being arranged in pairs back to back with their arcuate margins on the circumference of a common circle, the tongues of each pair of openings extending in diametrically opposite directions from each other and having their free edges substantially parallel with the circumference of said common circle, and an upwardly projecting marginal rim on said top wall, the edge of said rim being at a slightly greater height above the plane of said top wall than tip portions of said tongues.

JACOB H. SCHMIDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,122,879 Cohen July 5, 1938 2,148,276 Powers May 21, 1939 2,385,073 Grubbs Sept. 18, 1945 

